Alarm signal system with code register



1942- J. H. WHEELOCK 2,291,998

ALARM SIGNAL SYSTEM WITH CODE REGISTER Original Filed June 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l g- 1942' J. H. WHEELOCK 2,291,998

ALARM SIGNAL SYSTEM WITH CODE REGISTER Original Filed June 24, 1936 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 74\ SOLEHCND L- new: i 3 A /%f Q .Zfitanforr ,70/272 .WJ/izeelock Patented Aug. 4, 1942 ALARM SIGNAL SYSTEM Wrrn cons REGISTER A John H. Wheelock, Fitzwilliam, N. R, assignor to Signal Engineering 8; Manufacturing Company, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Original application June 24, 1936, Serial No. 86,921.- Divided and this application February 29, 1940, Serial No. 321,533

- 6Claims.

The present invention relates to alarm signal systems, particularly fire alarm systems, embodying a number of bells or other signals, adapted to be sounded or otherwise operated, in response to the actuation of any one of anumber oi separate alarm sending stations, such alarm systems being commonly installed in schools, factories, hotels and other large buildings. I

The present application is a division oi my original application, Serial No. 86,921, filed June 24, 1936, now Patent No. 2,235,272, March 18, 1941, which discloses an alarm system of the i above indicated character, in which the signals are adapted to sound a general alarm throughout the system, in response to the actuation of any one of a number of identical non-code sending stations. The invention of the present divisional application contemplates the adaptation of the general system disclosed in my aforesaid original application, for the utilization of coded sending stations operating in conjunction with a code register located at some central point, such as the ofiice of the superintendent of the school or other building in which the system is installed.

In operation, the system of the present application is adapted to cause functioning of the signals throughout the system only in accordance with a uniform predetermined sequence, irrespective of the particularcode designation of any actuated station. Furthermore, provision is made for independently recording the code designation of an actuated station by means of a register operating on a code basis simultaneously with the alarm signals, so that while the signals throughout the system are giving an alarm on a non-' code basis, the particular location of the actuated station is automatically recorded and can be determined by a person in authority, by reference to the code register. The above and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a schematic view, illustrating the system in its normal condition, with continuous electrical supervision of its .various circuits.

Fig. 2 illustrates the operation of. the system to transmit general alarm signals without code significance, while recording the code designation of an actuated station.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views in front and side elevation, respectively, showing the construction of a circuit controlling device embodied in the system.

Referring first to Fig. l, the signals i, which are adapted to be sounded or otherwise electrically operated for giving an alarm, are shown, for purposes of illustration. as being oi the singlestroke solenoid type, with each signal providing an operating winding 2, within which moves a magnetic striker 20.. Under certain conditions in the system, hereinafter described. the windings 2 oi the signals 1 are adapted to be connecte'din sections across the supply mains 3 and 4, with a resistor 5 in each section, by means 01' a number of pairs of relatively movable contacts 8 and 1, forming part of a master controller, generally designated by the reference character A.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the master controller A comprises a magnetic core 8, .one leg of which is surrounded by an energizing winding 9, while the lower end of the other core leg supports a main armature i 0 and an auxiliary armature H, movable independently of the main armature. The main armature carries a bar H, on

which are mounted a number-oi contacts 8, corremaster controller A is shown as having one terminal thereof connected to the supply main 3, while the other terminal thereof is connected to one end 0! the thermal element i5 01 an automatic circuit interrupter of the type shown in the Hanel Patent No. 1,868,500, issued July 26, 1932. The interrupter is shown diagrammatically as consisting 'of a pivoted arm l6 connected to the other ends 01 the thermal element IS, with the tension of the element l5 maintaining the arm It in engagement with a stationary contact ll. Upon the passage of a predetermined current through the thermal element i5, its heating and expansion permits a spring lie to turn the arm 16 about its pivot to disengage stationary contact ll, whereupon current no longer flows through the element I 5. The resulting cooling and contraction of the element 15 causes the arm to re-engage contact 11, whereupon the cycle is repeated to cause the interrupter to make and break the circuit of the element l5 so long as suiiicient current flows through the element to cause its expansion.

The stationary contact I! oi the thermal element I5 is connected in series with a number of alarm sending stations S or the coding type, disposed in various locations throughout the system. Each sending station S provides independent pairs of spaced stationary contacts |8, l9 and 28, 2|, and in the normal non-operating condition of the station, a circuit is maintained between the contacts I8 and I9 by a bridging member 22, while a second bridging member 23, insulated from the member 22, maintains a circuit between contacts 20 and 2|. The showing of the station S is entirely diagrammatic, and it will be readily understood that a station of this character can be constructed in various ways, in order to accomplish the results contemplated. In the illustrated embodiment, each station S provides a code wheel 24 that is adapted to be rotatably driven by suitable clockwork, upon actuation of the station, to impart an oscillatory movement to a pivoted arm 25, in accordance with the arrangement of codeprojections 24:: on the wheel 24. The arm 25 is connected by suitable gearing 26 to a shaft, on which the bridging members 22 and 23 are mounted for turning movement, in unison. Therefore, actuation of any station S is adapted to cause the bridging members 22 and 23 to be turned into the position of Fig. 2 each time a code projection 24a moves the arm 25, this action being repeated for each code impulse. After the code sequence has been transmitted one or more times, the station comes to rest with its parts in the position of Fig. 1. The construction of the station mechanism forms no part of the present invention, and is fully shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 86,512, filed June 22, 1936.

The several pairs of contacts 8 and I9 are normally engaged by bridging members 22, and a station conductor 21 connects the contacts l8 and I9 in series with a controlling resistor 28, signal windings 2 and the operating coil 29 .of a tape register 38, which is indicated only diagrammatically. Such tape registers are well known in the art, and it is sufflcient, for the purposes of the present application, to state that the register 38 is responsive to successive current impulses transmitted to the coil 29 by the operation of any station S, so as to record these impulses as a code designation, as by printing the code on a suitable tape 3|.

A conductor 32 leads from the coil 29 of the register 38 to a movable contact 33 normally engaged with a contact 34 connected by a conductor 35 to the lower series of bridged contacts'20 and 2| of the stations S. The several pairs of contacts 28 and 2| are normally engaged by bridging 'members 23, and a conductor 36 leads to a contact 31, engaged with a movable contact 38. The contact 38 is connected by a conductor 39 to the supply main 4 through resistor 40, and normally a supervisory current traverses all parts of the circuit described thus far.

With the'parts oi the system occupying the position of Fig. 1, supervisory current from the supply main 4 traverses resistor 48, conductor 39, closed contacts 38 and 31 and conductor 36 leading to the bridged station contacts 2| and 28. From station contacts 2| and 20, the supervisory current flows through conductor 35, closed contacts 34 and 33 and conductor 32, to the operating coil 29 of the tape register 38. From the coil 29, the supervisory current then traverses signal windings 2, resistor 28, bridged station contacts l9 and I8, thermal element I and controller winding 9, to the grounded supply main 3. Thus, supervisory current normally traverses all the essential elements of the system, including tape register, signals, sending stations, circuit interrupter and controller, as indicated by the small arrows in Fig. 1. This supervisory current is just suflicient to attract and hold in the auxiliary armature ll of the controller, to maintain a pair of supervisory contacts 4| closed by a. bridging member 4|a connected to the armature H, see Fig. 4. These supervisory contacts 4| are in circuit with a second pair or contacts 42, normally closed by a bridging member 420. carried by the main armature l8, although insulated from the contact arms 5, as indicated.

In order to indicate the occurrence of any fault in the system, trouble signals 43 and 43' are provided. The supervisory contacts 4| and 42 are in circuit between a resistor 44 connected to the main 3 and one terminal of the operating winding 45 of the trouble signal 43', the other terminal of which is connected to the supply main 4. Therefore, as long as the auxiliary armature holds the contacts 4| bridged and the main armature l8 remains down, to bridge the contacts 42, the trouble signal winding 45' will be traversed by a supervisory current just sumcient to hold a plunger 46' out of engagement with normally open contacts 41' shunted across a resistor 44 in circuit with the winding 45 of the main trouble signal 43. Upon the occurrence of a break or ground in the previously described circuits of the system, the auxiliary armature II will pull out, thereby opening contacts 4| to cause deenergization of trouble signal winding 45' and closure of contacts 41' by the falling of the plunger 48'. This short circuits the resistor 44 to cause energization. of the main trouble signal winding 45 from an auxiliary current source B, with the result that the operation of signal 43 indicates the occurrence of a fault in the system. Any fault in the trouble signal 43 itself, or failure of the source B, will be indicated by short circuiting of the resistor 44' through closure of contacts 41, to operate the auxiliary.

trouble signal 43'. The above indicated cross supervision of one trouble signal by the other, forms no part of the present invention, and is fully set forth and described in my Patent No. 2,170,104, issued August 22, 1939.

The contacts 33 and 38 are adapted to move in unison with a contact 48, by reason of their connection to a common operating member 49 of insulating material. The free end of contact 48 is received in a notch 50a. provided in a control disk 58, mounted on a shaft 5| connected through reduction gearing 52 to a shaft 53, forming part of the controller A. As best shown in Fig. 4, a step-by-step rotative movement is adapted to be imparted to the shaft 53 through a ratchet wheel 54, and a cooperating pawl 55 connected to the free end of the main armature l8 by an operating rod 55. Each time that the main armature I8 pulls up in response to full energization of the winding 9, the shaft 53 is turned through a predetermined angle, and the ratio of the gearing 52 is such, for example, that windings 2 at junction point 58a through a conductor 58. A second pair oi signal controlling contacts 48a and "a are respectively connected to the grounded supply main 3 through conductor B0, and to the remaining signal winding 2 through conductor 6|, at junction point Sic. Therefore, closure of the several pairs of contacts 48, 5B and 48a, 58a, serves to connect the signal windings 2 to the grounded supply main 3 at the Junction points 59a and Sic, respectively.

The shaft 53 also carries a master code wheel 62, and a contact 53, bearing on the wheel 62, is connected to one of the signal windings 2 by a conductor 54 at junction point No. A stationary contact 65 cooperating with contact 63, is connected by conductor 66 to one of the right-hand stationary controller contacts i, the other of which is connected to the supply main 4 by aconductor 51. A contact 68 movable with contact 53, through an operating member 69 of insulating material, is also connected to the conductor 65 at junction point 66a. This contact 68 cooperates with a stationary contact connected between the remaining signal windings 2 at junction point Ha by a conductor H. Therefore, closure of the respective pairs of contacts 63, 65 and 68, 10 by master code projections 62a ,on the wheel 62, is adapted to complete the connection of the signal windings 2 to the supply main 4 each time the right-hand controller contacts 6 and l are closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

The control disk 50 on the shaft 5i is adapted to actuate an additional pair of contacts I2 and 13 through connection of the movable contact 13 to the common operating member 49. The stationary contact I2 of this pair is connected by a conductor 14 to the supply main 4, while the movable contact 13 is connected to one terminal of the thermal element I5 by conductor 15 leading to junction point 15a. Therefore, when turning of the disk 50 raises the operating member 49 to close the contacts 12 and 13, an energizing circuit for the thermal element is established directly from the supply main 4, for a purpose which will shortly appear in connection with the following description of the operation of the systom. 7

Let it now be assumed that a code station S is actuated to cause bridging of station contacts l8 and 21 by member 22, as shown in Fig. 2.

When this occurs, a circuit is established from the supply main 4 through conductor 39, closed contacts 38, 31 and conductor 36, to the bridged contacts 2| and i8, and from thence through element IE to controller winding 9. This cuts the resistor 28, signal windings 2 and tape register winding 29 out of the circuit of the controller winding 9, and the increased current flowing through winding 9 causes the armature Ill to pull in. This turns the shafts BI and 53 through one step, thereby closing all of the contacts under the control of the disk 50 and of the code wheel 62, and preparing circuits for the independent operation of the tape register 30 and of the signals I.

Upon closure or contacts 12 and 13 by the disk 50, a circuit is established from the supply main 4 through conductors 14 and 15 to the point 150 between the thermal element l5 and the closed contacts l8 and 2| of the actuated station. This establishes a holding circuit for the continued operation of the automatic interrupter during the sending or a complete cycle of sequences, by the actuated station and also establishes a circuit to the tape register 30 through station contacts l8 and 2!, conductor 38, then closed contacts 3? and 33, and conductor 32. After passing through the winding 29 of the register 38, the current passes through conductor 6! and the closed contacts 68a and 48a to the grounded supply main 3, via .conductor 6t. Therefore, successive signal impulses transmitted at the actuated station 5 by bridging and unbridging station contacts i8 and 2i, results in successive energiaations of the winding 29 and recording of the signal impulses by the tape register 30. The flow of current for energizing the tape register 353 is indicated by open arrows in Fig. 2.

As the armature iii completes its upward movement, in response to the actuation of a station 5, closure of the controller contacts 6 and l causes energization of the signal windings 2 through completion of circuits that have already been partially established by closureof the several pairs of contacts it and 58, 48a and 58a, 83 and S5, and B8 and it. As indicated by the solid arrows in Fig. 2, signal operating current from the supply main 4 ilows through conductor 6i to the closed right hand controller contacts a and l, and then to contacts 65 and 68. From the engaged contacts 53 and 10, the operating current divides and flows through conductors 54 and II to the several sections of signal windings 12. From the windings 2, the operating current flows to the grounded supply main 3 in parallel through conductors 59 and 6t, closed contacts 48, 58 and 48a, 58a and conductors 5! and 60, together with closed left-hand controller contacts 6 and 1.

Since the thermal element I5 is continuously energized through the holding circuit established by the closed contacts '12 and I3 through conductor 1'5, the signals 1 will all be operated, in accordance with a regular sequence determined by the projections 62a on the wheel 62, with no definite relation between the general signal sequence and the simultaneously transmitted code station impulses, as recorded by the register 30. Upon completion of a predetermined number of general or master code sequences, as determined by the ratio of the gearing R, the system is restored toa condition of supervision, as contact 48 enters the notch 50a in disk 50. To insure this result, it is only necessary that the time required for one complete revolution of the disk 50 be greater than the time required for an actuated station S to transmit a complete cycle of code sequences through its code wheel 24. That is to say, while an actuated station S will run down and stop before the disk 50 completes one revolution, the holding circuit for the thermal element will be maintained through closed contacts l2 and 13 until the contact 48 again enters the notch 50a to restore the system to a condition of supervision.

I claim:

1. In an electric signaling system, the combination with transmitting stations, each including contacts with connections therebetween and means for repeatedly changing the contact connections upon actuation of a station, in accordance with a code sequence different for each station, signals, arr interrupter operable to alternately open and close a circuit therethrough when traversed by a current of given value, a controller having a winding in circuit with said interrupter, signal energizing circuits including normally open contacts operable by said controller, and a code register in circuit with said station contacts, of

means responsive to a change in the connections of the contacts of an actuated station to increase the current flow through said interrupter to such a value as to cause said controller to intermittently operate said signals, and to simultaneously cause the energization of said code register, independently of said signals, in accordance with the code designation of the actuated station.

2. In an electric signaling system, the combination with transmitting stations, each including contacts with connections therebetween and means for repeatedly changing the contact connections upon actuation or a station, in accordance with a code sequence diiierentfor each station, signals, an interrupter operable to alternately open and close a circuit therethrough when traversed by a current of given value, a controller having a winding in circuit with said interrupter, signal energizing circuits including normally open contacts operable by said controller, and a code register in circuit with said station contacts, of means responsive to the actuation of a station to fully energize said controller winding and cause closure of its contacts to increase the current flow through said interrupter to such a value as to cause said controller to thereafter intermittently operate said signals, and

' means responsive to repeated changing of the contact connections at the actuated station, simultaneously with operation of said signals, to energize said code register in accordance with the code designation of the actuated station.

3. In an electric signaling system, the combination with transmitting stations, each including contacts with connections therebetween and means for repeatedly changing the contact connections upon actuation of a station in accordance with a code sequence different for each station, signals, an interrupter operable to alternately open. and close a circuit therethrough, when traversed by a current of given value, a code register, a controller having a winding in a closed supervisory circuit including said station contacts, with their connections, signals, said interrupter and code register, and signal energizing circuits including normally open contacts operable by said controller, with the flow of supervisory current through said controller winding being insuflicient to cause closure of its contacts, or to operate said signals, said interrupter, or said code register, of means responsive to a energizing circuits including normally open contacts operable by said controller, with the flow of supervisory current through said controller w nding being insufflcient to cause closure of its contacts or in operate said signals, said interrupter, or said code register, of means responsive to the actuation oi a station to initially increase the energization of said controller winding and cause closure of its contacts to increase the current flow through said interrupter to such a value as to cause said controller to thereafter intermittently operate said signals, and means responsive to subsequent changing of the contact connections at the actuated station to operate said code register simultaneously with the operation of said signals, but in accordance with the code designation of the actuated station.

5. In an electric signaling system, the combination with transmitting stations, each including contacts with connections therebetween and means for repeatedly changing the contact connections u-pon actuation of a station in. ac-

' cordance with a code sequence different for each station, signals, an interrupter operable to alchange in the connections of the contacts or an actuated station to increase the current flow through said interrupter to' sucha value as to cause said controller to intermittently operate said signals, and to simultaneously cause repeated operation of said code register, independently of cordance with a code sequence different for each station, signals, an interrupter operable to alternately open and close a circuit therethrough, when traversed by a current of given value, a code register, a controller having a winding in a closed supervisory circuit including said station contacts, with their connections, signals, said interrupter and code register, and signal ternately open and close a circuit therethrough, when traversed by a current of given value, a code register, a controller having a winding in a closed supervisory circuit including said station contacts, with their connections, signals, said interrupter and code register, and signal energizing circuits including normally open contacts operable by said controller, with the flow of supervisory current through said controller winding being insufficient to cause closure of its contacts or to operate said signals, said interrupter, or said code register, of means responsive to the actuation of a station to fully energize said controller winding and cause said controller to establish independent operating circuits, one including said signals under the control of said interrupter and controller contacts, and the other circuit including said register and station contacts.

6. In an electric signaling system, the com bination with transmitting stations, each including contacts with connections therebetween and means for repeatedly changing the contact connections upon actuation of a station in accordance with a code sequence different for each station, signals, an interrupter operable to alternately open and close a circuit therethrough, when traversed by a current of given value, a code register, a controller having a winding in a closed supervisory circuit including said station contacts, with their connections, signals, said interrupter and code register, and signal energizing circuits including normally open contacts operable by said controller, with the flow of supervisory current through said controller winding being insuflicient to cause closure of its contacts or to operate said signals, said interrupter, or said code register, of means responsive to the actuation of a station to fully energize said controller winding and causesaid controller to establish independent operating circuits, one including said signals under the control of said interrupter and controller contacts for intermittently operating said signals, and the other circuit including said register and station contacts for repeatedly operating said register in accordance with the code designation of the actuated station.

. JOHN H. WHEELOCK. 

